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Commentary & Editorials
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TOTAL NUMBERS AND
ODDS OF AN ACCIDENTAL DEATH IN THE USA BY CAUSE OF INJURY in 2003 –
comparing human fatalities caused by captive exotic and wild animals
(average up to year 2006) to deaths caused in the course of a normal
daily routine in every day life in 2003.
REXANO only used fatalities numbers since all deaths are reported
and there is only one degree of death. Injuries in all walks of life
range from life threatening to simple Band-Aid fix and many go
unreported. The average life expectancy of 77 years was used to
calculate the lifetime odds.
|
Cause of death in 2003 |
Number of deaths per year |
One-year odds |
Lifetime odds |
|
Captive non-human primate |
0* |
0 |
0 |
|
Captive bear |
0.125** |
1 in 2,416,000,000 |
1 in 32,000,000 |
|
Captive elephant |
0.81** |
378,000,000 |
5,000,000 |
|
Captive big/exotic cat |
1** |
302,000,000 |
4,000,000 |
|
Captive reptile |
1.5*** |
201,000,000 |
2,700,000 |
|
Fireworks discharge |
11 |
26,440,910 |
340,733 |
|
Contact with hot tap-water |
26 |
11,186,539 |
144,156 |
|
Flood |
26 |
11,186,539 |
144,156 |
|
Bitten or struck by dog |
32 |
9,089,063 |
117,127 |
|
Earthquake and other earth movements |
32 |
9,089,063 |
117,127 |
|
Struck by or against another person |
39 |
7,457,692 |
96,104 |
|
Lightning |
47 |
6,188,298 |
79,746 |
|
Contact with hornets, wasps and bees |
66 |
4,406,818 |
56,789 |
|
Cataclysmic storm (****) |
75 |
3,878,000 |
49,974 |
|
Animal rider or occupant of animal-drawn vehicle |
101 |
2,879,703 |
37,110 |
|
Alcohol |
373 |
779,759 |
10,048 |
|
Fall on and from ladder or scaffolding |
417 |
697,482 |
8,988 |
|
Drowning and submersion while in or falling into swimming pool |
515 |
564,757 |
7,278 |
|
Firearms discharge |
730 |
398,425 |
5,134 |
|
Air and space transport accidents |
742 |
391,981 |
5,051 |
|
Occupant of all-terrain or other off-road motor vehicle |
906 |
321,026 |
4,137 |
|
Drowning and submersion while in or falling into natural water |
1225 |
237,429 |
3,060 |
|
Fall on and from stairs and steps |
1,588 |
183,155 |
2,360 |
|
Exposure to smoke, fire and flames |
3,369 |
86,331 |
1,113 |
|
Motorcycle riding |
3,676 |
79,121 |
1,020 |
|
Assault by firearm |
11,920 |
24,400 |
314 |
|
Motor vehicle accidents |
44,757 |
6,498 |
84 |
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Source: National Safety Council, National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. Census, animal attack news reports *In 1997 in Atlanta, Georgia, one Yerkes primate researcher supposedly died of herpes B after she was splashed in the eye with bodily fluids from a rhesus macaque; this can NOT be classified as animal ‘attack’, just like a nurse or doctor being accidentally infected with a blood from an AIDS patients can not be called a murder. ** Based on 16 year average 1990-2006 numbers *** Based on 11 year average 1995-2006 numbers (****)Includes hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, dust storms and other cataclysmic storms. Note: Exotic animal yearly and lifetime odds numbers were rounded due to their extremely large size for the ease of use and quoting purposes in the media and legislative sessions. |
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